CHANDIGARH, Sept 22: The bail application of Manoj Kumar Godara, allegedly involved in the murder of an S.A.S. Nagar resident in the Sector 10 market, was rejected by UT Additional District and Sessions Judge S.S. Lamba today.Nephew of Haryana Home Minister Mani Ram Godara, the accused was reportedly arrested by the Chandigarh Police from Panchkula on June 8 after Manjit Singh died in a cross fire outside Hotel Mountview here.According to the prosecution, the firing had followed an altercation between the two groups during a cultural evening organised at Chandigarh Club a few months prior to the incident. The victim was in a Maruti car, while the "assailants" were driving a Zen, the prosecution had added.Today, seeking his release on bail, the defence counsel contended that the accused did not raise a lalkara as alleged in the First Information Report.Referring to a shopkeeper's statement as recorded by the police during investigations, the counsel stated that the lalkara was not heard by him. The witness, in his statement, merely claimed that the accused were seen in the market corridor, he added.Alleging the FIR to be "false", the counsel argued that the complainant's side was the aggressive party in the cross fire.It was evident from the perusal of the FIR that the complainant had also fired in the air. Further, carrying a loaded gun without a licence valid in the City was not justified, he stated. Moreover, the complainant was also wanted by the police in another case, he added.Opposing the plea, the counsel for the complainant stated that the lalkara could not have been heard by the shopkeeper as he was about 30 to 40 feet away. The deputy district attorney further argued that the gravity of offence could not be ignored.
